I'm looking to make a job change, but I want to work in a U.S. city that is in an area that has good backpacking (mountains) and kayaking (lakes and class 1-class 4 rivers). I realize this is just a backpacking website, but I thought I would throw in the kayaking part. Do you have any recommendations for such a city that has both in the area?

there are lots of other issues like cost of living, unemployment levels etc. In CA you could think about someplace like Sacramento. Not as costly as the SF bay area, has the American River not too far away which has some small class iv rapids and the SIERRAS!!

What's your def. of mountains? Do the Appalachians count? If so, I am not sure what city, but the kayaking in WV is really hard to beat.

^ Jerry is selling his state(s) short. It is beautiful in Oregon and Washington. Those Pacific Northwesterners are just trying to keep it all to themselves especially when it comes to keeping migrants out (I joke).

I cant say anything bad about vancouver but I'm looking the relocate to calgary. 45 minutes and you've got anything you could ever ask for in the rocky mountains. Trails, rivers, and lakes in the summer. The winters aren't THAT bad, the chinooks take care of a lot of the snow and theres two world class snowboard/skiing mountains within an hour. They have the university of calgary with somewhere around 30 000 students.

I'm actually more of baseball fan, but I second the tim hortons coffee thing. You may also have to get a cowboy hat and a diesel pick up truck with a 6" lift to obtain residency but I think its worth the trade off.